OTL: Recapping Epic Mock ’26

It was an exciting and eventful three-day stream, as Epic Mock 26’ officially wrapped up Saturday night. As things officially kicked off for Round 1 on Thursday, it was clear just how hectic an NFL war room could truly be. Players on the top of our boards flying off, positional needs being sniped just picks before our selections, and trade calls throughout day 2. After three days and 257 picks, here’s what we came away with for the Baltimore Ravens.

*Note: To keep things realistic, we held onto all 11 picks the Ravens possess in the 2026 NFL Draft, knowing DeCosta’s love for draft picks.

Round 1, Pick 14: Olaivavega Ionae, G, Penn St

If there was one guy we had to walk away with in Round 1, it was Vega Ionae. Ioane is an immediate starter in a position group at which the Ravens desperately need an upgrade. Surrendering zero sacks across a two-year span, Ionae enters as the best interior offensive lineman in the 2026 class. Ravens run game coordinator Dwayne Ledford spent extensive time with Ioane at Penn State’s pro day, running workouts and getting a real look at the potential first-rounder. Lamar Jackson spent most of 2025 banged up, and bringing in Ioane immediately helps prevent more of the same in 2026.

Round 2, Pick 45: Akheem Mesidor, Edge Rusher, Miami

As Bengals podcaster Ryan Sparks said when he joined our stream, “Of course Mesidor would fall to the Ravens.” It’s one of those picks that just seems too good to be true, and would bring immediate firepower to the Ravens pass-rush group. Mesidor will hear his name called next week at the age of 25, a concern for many teams selecting in the first round. It’s not a concern of talent, but rather a worry of longevity. Mesidor finished 2025 with 13 sacks, en route to a National Championship appearance with the Hurricanes. For a team like the Ravens, it would be a great pick if Mesidor were to find himself sliding into Day 2. Avoiding the use of a first-round pick on a 25-year-old, while also acquiring a talent that can make an impact for a potential contender like Baltimore. The Ravens utilized a second-round pick last year to select Mike Green, another player who many expected to go in the first round. One can only hope the Ravens see the same play out with Mesidor.

Round 3, Pick 80: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame

There’s no question the Ravens could use some help at the receiver position, especially with the loss of Tylan Wallace and both tight ends, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, to free agency. Fields is coming off a quiet season at Notre Dame, but not entirely due to his own doing. Notre Dame entered the season with a redshirt freshman, C.J Carr, at quarterback, with a backfield featuring Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The passing game was never a true feature of the Irish offense, but that didn’t stop Fields from making plays. He’s a true “X” receiver, a position the Ravens fans have begged for years to acquire. Fields’ best performance of the season came against Pitt, where the senior recorded 7 receptions, 99 yards, and 2 receiving touchdowns, all season-highs. The ceiling may not be WR1 for Fields, but the Notre Dame pass catcher could serve as a great addition to a room of Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Tez Walker.

It Takes (TE)2 to Tango

Round 4, Pick 115: Jack Endries, TE, Texas

Sticking with the offensive side of the ball yet again, Jack Endries addresses the immediate need of a third tight end. As general manager Eric DeCosta said during the team’s interview yesterday, Baltimore could find itself selecting multiple tight ends in this draft class. Sitting back and watching 35 selections go by since pick 80, you witness a lot of the top tight end options fly off the boards. Endries, however, is viewed by some as one of those top middle-round prospects. A three-year starter, Endries found himself as Fernando Mendoza’s top target at Cal in 2024, before finishing his collegiate career at Texas as a junior. He brings a basketball-esque boxout to his pass-catching game, with room to build on his run-blocking ability. The Ravens need help at tight end, and Endries could serve as a reliable TE3 in year one.

Round 5, Pick 154: Kage Casey, Tackle, Boise State

The Ravens need help in the trenches, and getting a prospect like Casey gives you a tackle for the future, who could also find himself filling in at times in year one. He’s strong as a drive blocker in the run game, and mirrors well in his pass sets. Casey brings flexibility to play guard as well as the ability to play as a swing tackle at the next level. Casey allowed just 6 sacks on 2,730 career pass blocking snaps, according to PFF. He’s a bit undersized, but brings tenacity and relentlessness to win his reps. Ronnie Stanley isn’t getting any younger, and grabbing a guy like Casey gives you a great replacement for the future.

Round 5, Pick 162: Kaytron Allen, Running Back, Penn St

Similar to Ronnie Stanley, Derrick Henry is only getting older. We saw last season, despite an underwhelming offensive line, the veteran back is still one of the best in the league. However, you never know when exactly those wheels are going to fall off. Investing in a running back wouldn’t hurt the Ravens, regardless of who’s running the offensive scheme now in Baltimore. We’re all still eager to see what a Declan Doyle offense looks like, and even if that means less reliance on the run game like Monken and Roman, snagging Allen would bring experience to the running back room. Keaton Mitchell joined Kolar in L.A, leaving Henry, Hill, and Ali remaining. Allen was a four-year starter with Penn State, putting together his best season in 2025, totaling 1,303 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Henry could use a solid counterpart, with Hill serving as that pass-blocking third-down back. Allen could be just that, while also reuniting him with his college guard in Ioane.

Round 5, Pick 173: Thaddeus Dixon, Cornerback, UNC

Switching things up and addressing the secondary, there’s no question it’s a position Baltimore will have to address with one of their eleven draft picks next week. Marlon Humphrey is coming off the worst season of his career, Nate Wiggins still struggled at times in year two, and season-ending injuries to both cornerback draft picks in 2025 leave question marks at the position. The Ravens have done their due diligence on corners in this class, bringing in first-round projection Mansoor Delane for a visit. It’d be a little frustrating to see Baltimore address the secondary in the first round, for the fourth time in five years, but not a shock to see a pick or two at the position. Dixon appeared in just 7 games for the Tar Heels last season, but has shown solid ball skills over his three-year career, totaling 2 INTs and 20 PBUs. The addition also allows Robert Longerbeam and Bilhal Kone as much time as needed to work themselves back to action.

Round 5, Pick 174: Brett Thorson, Punter, Georgia

It’s not a flashy pick, but a needed one after the Ravens watched their All-Pro punter Jordan Stout join John Harbaugh in New York. Thorson is viewed by many as the most pro-ready punter in the draft. Thorson’s 43.4 average net yards ranked 4th in the country, with 24 punts landing inside the 20(16th). You hope to never see your punter unless he’s holding for an XP, but Stout showed last season how valuable a good punter is. Replacing him will be tough, but Thorson could be that guy.

Round 6, Pick 211: Zane Durant, IDL, Penn St

There seems to be a trend, but Durant falling to the sixth round would be a dream for the Ravens interior defensive line. There’s hope, but no certainty for Nnamdi Madubuike’s future. Getting a freak athlete like Durant would be a great piece alongside Travis Jones. Durant produced 4 sacks and 19 total pressures last season, showing a twitch and quickness to win off his blocks. Aneeas Peebles, whom the Ravens selected in the 6th round last season, deserves his looks as well in 2026, but Jones, Durant, and Peebles would be a solid approach into what truly is the second wave of free agency, with D.J Reader still sitting out there on the market.

Round 7, Pick 250: Louis Moore, Safety, Indiana

The big Baltimore free agency signing was obviously Trey Hendrickson, but safety Jaylinn Hawkins might be the most impactful to the defense when all is said and done. His ball skills and coverage will allow Kyle Hamilton to get back to his “swiss army knife” play style. Grabbing a guy like Louis Moore provides more depth to a position group that has really been searching for exactly that: reliable depth. Moore showed exceptional ball skills in 2025, registering 6 INTs, 5 PBUs, and just one lone touchdown in coverage. The senior safety also recorded 64 tackles on just a 13% missed tackle rate. There’s no such thing as too much help in the secondary, especially when you’re a Baltimore defense coming off a 30th-ranked pass defense in 2025.

Round 7, Pick 253: Koby-Sebasyen King, LB, East Texas A&M

We ended our weekend selecting a player I was honored to have on the podcast Saturday afternoon. Koby-Sebasyen King is a relentless sideline-to-sideline linebacker out of the FCS, with production off the charts last season. King recorded 113 tackles, 13.5 TKFL, 5.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. He said it himself, his see ball get ball mentality is where he strives, getting pads on anyone with the rock. He’s got a background playing safety, and said he’s still looking to build on his coverage skills even more at the next level. Since the departure of Patrick Queen, the Ravens have missed that presence of a sideline-to-sideline backer. With Teddye Buchanan working his way back from a season-ending knee injury, Koby-Sebasyen King would be a great pick in the later rounds, with a lot of upside in his game. His special teams experience should also get him some snaps early.

The post OTL: Recapping Epic Mock ’26 appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/04/16/out-to-lunch/otl-recapping-epic-mock-26/